The interim government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed celebrated its one year in office on Friday highlighting its 'successes' through special supplements in newspapers, programmes on television networks and discussions with cross-section of people at deputy commissioners' offices across the country.

The cabinet division had earlier directed all deputy commissioners to hold meetings with the elites and eminent citizens in their respective districts apparently to explain the official views on the events leading up to the declaration of a state of emergency on January 11, 2007 and its relevance to the present situation besides highlighting the 'successes' of the interim government.

State-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar broadcast various programmes featuring the activities and performance of the interim government which assumed office one year ago in the wake of political turmoil.

Private TV channels aired different programmes including talk shows and footages of events leading up to the emergency and the government's activities including its drives against corruption.

New Age correspondents in different districts reported that while exchanging views at the meetings at the deputy commissioners' offices, representatives of local elite and different strata of the people called for immediate lifting of the state of emergency and creating an atmosphere conducive to holding a fair election.

Although the speakers appreciated improvement of law and order in some places, they regretted that the emergency brought no good, rather problems for the village people.

Unemployment and price hike have hit hard the rural life due to the government's anti-corruption drive, they pointed out.

Our Moulvibazar correspondent reported that the local administration citing the positive steps of the interim government at the meeting on Thursday said 'one stop passport service', 'one stop record service', 'citizen's charter' and service for expatriate people had been introduced in the district for the convenience of the people during the last one year.

Members of the elite, however, said people had been reeling under price hike of essential commodities, short supply of fodder and problems in the health sector in Moulvibazar district.

The deputy commissioner urged the people to extend their support to the administration to resolve the problems. He said that it was not reasonable to expect that all the problems accumulated over the last 36 years could be resolved overnight.

Our correspondent in Barisal said a video clipping show, organised by the district administration on Thursday highlighting the 'successes' of the present government began an hour late due to poor attendance.

The speakers at the meeting appreciated the 'achievements' of the government and called for more reforms and strengthening the anti-corruption drives in all spheres of national life.

Our correspondent in Jessore said the district information office held a similar view exchange meeting at the Collectorate Office on Thursday afternoon.